An Important Land Court. Mountain and Hot Springs Reserves. Taupo, this day.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 145, 13 March 1886, Page 3

An Important Land Court. Mountain and Hot Springs Reserves. Taupo, this day.

Okakukura, a block of eighty thousand acres on the South of J ake Taupo, passed tho .Native Land Court hero on Saturday last, and the Government, it ia said, are negotiating for the purchase of a portion adapted for settlement. To Egu Heu and his brother chiefs have agreed, in accordance with a desh'e expressed by the hon. the Native Minister, to make the mountains of Ruapehu, Nearu hoe, and Tongariro—which are partly in this block - unalienable reserves, which are intended as public recreation grounds, and orders of Court have been made accordingly. A large reservation at Tokanu, including its numerous hot springs, is also being arranged for the purpose of a township and agricultural settlement, much of the land in that neighbourhood being well suited for the latter purpose. The Court is at present adjudicating upon the claim of Te Heu Heu and jbeteri Te Paerata to the lands on the western side of Lako Taupo, a large block of about four hundred thousand acres extending from the Waikato River, near Whakamaru, to Hurakia and Tuhua. This covers a large portion of the country about which rumours of gold and other minerals havo been rife for years past, and which will now soon be thoroughly tested. The natives are now attending this Court, and matters appear to be going,on smoothly. The great Taonui and Rewi JNgatimaniapofco or Manga, and other aboriginal magnates, are all present looking after their several interests.